Adjustable damper



oct. 17, 1933. J D, McKNlHT 1,931,263 ADJUSTABLEv DAMPER n 1 Filed March 12, 195o' 5 sheets-sheet 1 1P F'IGJ.

` f vwentoz 3 JAMfs aww/am Oct. 17, I'1933. J. D. MCKNIGHT r1,931,263

ADJUSTABLE DAMPER` Filed March v12 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 www@ "www tu l' Oct. 17, 1933. J. D. MGKNlGl-rr; 1,931,263

ADJUSTABLE imitan Filed March 12, 1930 :s sheets-smet s Patented ct.` 17, 1933 i UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ADJUSTABLE DAMPER James D. McKnight, New York, N. Y.

Application'March 12, 1930. 'Serial No. 435,076

9 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable dampers employed in connection with heat and Ventilating registers. It is particularly applicable, to registers which are adapted to discharge a stream of hot or cool air into a room or auditorium, or the like, although it may be used to advantage on registers intended for the removal of .air as well. A common practice in connection with systems of this sort is to provide a series of louvers in rear of the face of the register, these louvers4 being adjustable about their pivots to close off the delivery of air to the register to any extent desired.

One objectionable feature of such systerns'asl heretofore constructed is that the adjustment of the louvers to cut oif the supply of air has at the same time served to alter the direction of the streamof air leaving the register. This has necessarily complicated the problem of properly Ventilating rooms provided with these systems. For example when the louvers are wide open, the current of air may be appropriately directed so as to avoid drafts on persons within the room but when the louvers are shifted to partially close the register, the stream of air may be directed against a wall or the ceiling, or downwardly in such a way as to cause undesirable drafts.

It has been an object of the present invention to improve generally such adjustable dampervsystems and more particularly a system which is free from the objectionable features now cornmonly found. According to my invention, the air delivered from the front of the register will always flow in l'the Same direction, preferably in a stream perpendicular to the face of the register, regardless oi the adjustment of the device to regulate the quantity of air delivered. This materially simplies the problem of arranging the registers for the proper heating and ventilation of rooms. The stream of air always being directed in the same direction, the elimination of drafts may be effec ed once and for all. If upon installation of the system the air is directed away .tity may be effected between a completely closed condition of the damper to a wide-open condition. Furthermore, in effecting these variations the stream of air is maintained uniform over substantially the entire face of the register.

,a frame vl1 which maybe sf' any appropriate (o1. eis-11o) Numerous other features and advantagesy of the invention will appear from the detailed description of the same which is to follow. While the invention is particularly applicable to the delivery side of a Ventilating system, as above explained, it has many advantageous features which are applicable as well tothe intake end of the exhaust portion of the system. Certain admirable embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a face view of a register embodying one form of the improved damper system, a part of the register face being cut away.

Figure 2v is`a horizontal sectional view through 70 the register taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l and shows the dampers wide open.

Figure 3 is a horizontal Sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the dampers in closed position.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing :the movement of air through the register with the dampers partly closed.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the action of the .air when the dampers are fully so closed. I i j Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing a. portion of a modifiedV damper construction with the dampers in closed position.

Figure '7 is a similar view with the dampers in 85 open position.

Figures 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the movement of air through the modied damper system with the dampers lfully and partially opened, respectively.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional view along the /line 10-10 of Figure 2, and

-larly Figures 1, 2, 3, and 10, there is shown a conventional form of register face 10 consisting of a grating of any suitable design. This register face may be secured in any suitable way to form but is preferably rectangular. This frame supports and houses all of the damper mechanism t be described. It may be of any depth desired which is permissible within the limits available. Usually due tothe wall construction in modern buildings'it-is impossible to employ a damper frame which, is more than about 2 inches in depth. It is due to this limitation in space that development of a suitable damper system of the type contemplated by the present invention has been made dinicult.

The forward ends of the walls of the housing v 11 may be turned at right angles to provide flanges 12 to which the register face lo may be secured in any way as by means of rivets. At suitably spaced intervals between the side walls of the frame 11 there may be provided a series of vertical-partition members 13 extending prefout their length :for the purpose of providing seats for vertically extending` shafts or rods 16. The latter may be secured in any suitable way in the top and bottom members of the frame 11. Hinged upon each of the rods 16 is an adjustable louver or vane 17 which, as shown' in Figure 2, may assume a position substantially flat against the associated partition members 13 or,

,as shown in Figure 3, may assume a position completely closing oif the openings between adjacent pairs of the vertical partitions.

For the purpose of adjusting the position of the louvers 17, each may have secured thereto an arm 18 which is pivotally connected to a link 19 which in turn is connected to a pivoted segment 20. The latter may be secured to one ofthe adjustable louvers 17 in lieu of an arm 18, as shown at the right of Figure 2. A worm 21 suitably mounted in brackets securedV to the frame 11 may be rotated by means of a key applied to the square head 22 of the same for the purpose of adjusting the segment 20 to any desired position. It will be apparent that movement of the segment willbring about a correspending movement of all of the louvers 17 to anyj position between that shown in Figure 2 N rectangular register, which may, for example, be

-and that shown in Figure 3. The louvers 17 may through the register.

be entirely straight in cross section if desired vor they may have a bent portion 23 adapted to -cooperate with the adjacent partition member.

The provision of the bent portion merely serves4 to limit the necessary movement of the louvers to completely close the register.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is illustrated diagrammatically the movement ,of the air through the system. Air delivered to the register through a duct 24 is advancing in a stream of substantially uniform velocity and extendsvover its entire area. That portion which is in line ,with the several louvers 17, as represented by the section designated a, will be turned back upon it;- self in the manner indicated and will not pass However, that portion of the air delivered'over the area designated b fwill pass through this system between -the partly closed louvers and thev iixed venes or partition members 13. In passing between these elements the air will expand to completely illl, the space between adjacent partitions 13, and will pass, out at, the face of the register over 'the entire area designated c in a stream parallel to the partition members. If the'louvers l'lare completely closed,

as shown in Figure 5, then the entire air stream will be delivered into the pocket between the louvers and the associated partition members so that no air will pass through the register.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the louvers will have a true valve action. Closing of the louvers to any extent will produce a corresponding reduction in the iiowlof air past the louvers. Partial closingl of the register will not simply result in an increased velocity of iiow past the restricted portion of the passage as is commonly the case in prior structures. The velocity of movement of air through the restricted openingb remains the same so that the quantity of air permitted to flow is substantially directly proportional to the extent of the opening. It should be observed, furthermore, that the result of the arrangement' of the louvers in the manner disclosed is to provide a compression chamber on the approach side of the vanes and an expansion chamber on the discharge side. Thus,l even. .though air may be delivered to the register under a fair pressure, it will expand in passing through the restricted opening into the enlarged space on the discharge side and it will be delivered in 'san even flow over the entire register face. llhere will be no high velocity jets at scattered points asY is so commonly the case inrthe prior structures. This-permits easy balancing of a large Ventilating system since the air may be delivered under suilicient pressureat a remote register to insure adequate supply. At the same time a register near the fan or blower maybe throttled down to the point of passing only the required amount of air. The action of the compression and expansion chambers on the two sides of the louvers will be such as to produce a smooth `distribution over the entire register face. l

.While reference has been made to the vertical disposition of the partition members 13 and louvers 17, it will be clear that the entire system may, if desired, betilted through 90 degrees so as to place these elements in a horizontal position. This will have no eiect whatever upon the control, since under the arrangement disclosed the stream of air will always emerge from the face 3 feet high and l feet wide, it is immaterial from 1-20 an operating standpoint whether `the louversA are in a verticalor a horizontal position. However, from a manufacturing standpoint it is much simpler 'to employ a small number of long, horlzontal louvers rather than a large'number -of 125 short, vertical louvers. With the older forms of construction, it is usually necessary to provide verticallouvers so that when adjusting the same the air stream will not be directed against the ceiling or down on the heads of persons in the room. Should it -be desired to direct the air stream at an angle. to the face of the register, the fixed partitions may be tilted at a corresponding angle to such face.

Referring now to Figures 7, 8; 9 and 11, a modi- 135 ned form of construction is illustrated. Here, in lieu of having fixed partition members in the supporting frame; pairs of movable louvers are provided. For example there may be aseries of louvers 25 adapted to co-operate with another 14g series of louvers 26, both series being carried by a plurality of 'vertically extending rods 27. Each of the louvers 25 may have secured thereto an arm 28 which is pivotally connected to a link 29 having abent extension at its end which is pivotally connected at 30 toa segment 31 mounted on a stud 310 extending from the bottom of the frame. Similarly, each of the louvers 26 may be provided with anarm 32 pivotally connected to a link 33 which is attached to the segment 31 at a 150- point 34 on the opposite side of the stud 310 from the point`30. A worm 35 carried b y the frame and rotatable by vmeans of a key applied'to the square end 36 may serve to rock the segment 31 and carry the link 29 to the left and link 33 to the right of the positions shown in Figure 6, This, when carried to the proper extent, lwill result in shifting the series of louvers and 26 into the full open position shown in Figure 7..

It will be obvious that'when the louvers are in the positions shown in Figures 7 and 8, the stream of air will flow freely through the register as I indicated by the arrows in Figure 8. However,

when the louvers are partially closed, as indicated in Figure 9, the portion of the stream over the area designated d will be sent into the pockets between adjacent louvers 25 and 26 and will be turned back. The portion of the stream over the area designated lrwill pass through the openings between the louvers and will expand over the eritire face of the register, as indicated by the4 arrows. It will be apparent that under all conditions the stream of air will be -discharged perpendicularly to the face ofthe register. The pivotal rods 27 may be located at a slight distance in rear of the register face, as shown, or^'by a slight revision of the operating mechanism for the louvers, these rods may be shifted forwardly to a point just in rear of theregister face. In the arrangement shown, a stationary partition member may readily be provided between each of the rods 27 and the face of the register, either per` pendicular to the latter or at any desired angle thereto to assist in the uniform direction of the stream of air. f A

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been explained in considerable detail, it will be understood that many variationa may be made in the general arrangement of the apparatus and in the mechanism for operating the louvers without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. When the damper system is to vbe used in connection with an exhaust register, it will be understood that theregister 'face should preferably be located on the opposite side of the casing 1l so that the air will still flow in the direction of the arrows indicated in Figures 4, 5, 8 and 9. The various terms employed herein have been used merely for purposes of description and not for the purpose of imposing anylimitations on the invention. t

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described an air conduit, a register having a face cooperating with `the end thereof, a plurality of short iixed parallel vanes mounted in said register adjacent the end 0f said conduit to divide said register face into sections, and a plurality of adjustable vanes each pivoted adjacent and intermediate the edges of of one of saidxed vanes, said adjustable vanes extending from their pivots in a general direction opposite to the flow of air.

2. Inapparatus of the class described an air l conduit, a register having a face cooperating with the end thereof, a plurality of short fixed parallelvanes mounted in said register adjacent the end of said conduit to divide said register face into vanesto vary the quantity-of air passing through the register. l

3. In apparatus of the class described a register having aface and a frame with walls substantially perpendicular to said face, a plurality of xed vanes mounted at regular spaced intervals within said frame and extending to the face of said'register, and a plrality of movable vanes mounted on pivots adjacent said xed vanes intermediate the edges thereof, said movable vanes extending from said pivots in a direction faway from the face of the register.

4. In apparatus ofthe class described having a face and a frame attached to and extending rearwardly from said face, a plurality of flat partition members extending rearwardly from said face, and a plurality of movable vanes each pivoted adjacent one of said partitions intermediate the edges thereof at a point near but spaced from said face, said vanes extending from their pivots opposite to the direction of flow through the register. f

5. In apparatus of the class described a register having a face and a frame extending rearwardly from said face and connectedtherewith, two groups of vanes mounted within said frame, the vanes of one group being pivoted at one of their edges adjacent the vanes of the other group and having their outer ends movable toward and away from the vanes of said other -group to close and open the register, respectively, means for variably adjusting the ends of said pivoted groups of vanes, said vanes, when moved to a partially closed position, serving to form substantially V-shaped pockets at the pivots for retaining and preventing thepassage of a portion of the medium flowing through the register, said pocketshavingtheir walls extending from the pivots in the direction from which the air is flowing.

a register 6. In apparatus of the class described a registerC tion of flow through the register thereby, when moved to a partially closed position, serving to form pockets at the pivots for preventing the passage of a portion of the medium flowing through the register.

7. In apparatus of the class described a register having a face and a frame extending rearwardly from said face and connected therewith, two groups of. vanes mounted within said frame, all of said vanes having a fixed pivot adjacent one edge, each vane of one group being pivoted adjacent Aa vane of the other group, and means for adjustably rocking the vanes of each group in unison in the same direction to any desired extent, thel vanes of different groups being rocked in opposite directions, said vanes being' so constructed and arranged that when adjusted tosections, a plurality of adjustable vanes eachwward'partially closed position they form pockets -pivotedl vadjacent .and intermediate the edges of one of said xed vanes, said adjustable vanes ex- `tending from their pivots in a generaldirection opposite to the flow of air, and means for shifting said adjustable vanes to carry their free ends toward and away from the next adjacent fixed at thepivots having their walls extending from said pivots in the direction from which' the air is flowing to retain and obstruct the flow of a portion of the air. v

8. In. apparatus of the class described an air conduit, flow control means disposed transversely A of said conduit, said means comprising a plurality of vanes arranged in pairs, the varies of..

each pair having points thereonin ilxed juxta-A posed relation, and means for producing relative movement between other points on the vanes oi.' a pair for regulating thequantity of air delivered throughsaid register, said flxed points forming the apexes bf substantially V-shaped pockets 'having walls extending from said apexes in the direction from which the air is flowing and into which a portion' of the flowing air is directed, the` varies being arranged to provide an even distribution of the air at their adjacent ends.

9. In apparatus of the classdescribed an. air conduit, a register cooperating with the end of saidf conduit, means comprising a plurality. of

pivoted vanes carried by said register adjacent the end of. said conduit, adapted to continuously direct the air in a stream perpendicular to the face of the register, said varies extending rearwardlyl of their pivotal supports toward the con= duit, and means for adjusting-said vanes to regulate the quantity of air delivered through said register, the vanes being so constructed and arranged as to form passages throughthe register all diverging toward the face ofthe register when the vanes are moved to partially closed position, the series of diverging passages having a combined area at their outer ends substantially equal to `the area of the register face.

JAMES D. MCKNIGHT. 

